Lithium-containing bearing metals



3o exceeding 1%, a combination of the qualiexcess of about 1.0%.

Patented Dec. 6, 1927. i p UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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LITHIUM-CONTAINING BEARING METALS.. Io Drawing. Application filed March6, 1925, Serial 1T0. 13,633, and in Germany Karen 12, 1924.

. Ithas been found that alloys consisting The alloys of the presentinvention are essentially of lead alloyed with relatively lesssusceptible to corrosion than the known small amounts of lithium andsodium, or bearing-metal alloys containin alkaline lithium andpotassium, or lithium, sodium earth metal additions. By suita le surfaceand potassium, possess, as compared with treatment, for instance bytinning, the,resisknown bearing-metals, particularly valutivity of theallo 5 against corrosion may be able properties. Such alloys containingfurther improved: only a very small amount of lithium ex- The alloys canbe produced according to hibit a comparatively great hardness or any ofthe known methods, for instance by rigidity and possess in addition to ahigh melting the components or alloys thereof resistivity to shocks,good casting qualities, together, electrolysis, diffusion, etc. 1 andlow melting point, a characteristically As is apparent from theforegoing, the high compression strength, being in this reinventionresides principally in the addition spect approximately equivalent tored brass. of lithium to bearing-metal alloys consist- 5 Such alloysalso possess excellent bearing ing essentially of lead and containingother pro rtie alkalimetals, with or without other known 70 Lead alloyscontaining potassium and additions or .components such as thealkalinelithium each in quantity amounting to less earth and the heavy metals.The lithium than 1%, have particularly favorable bearbesides conferringvaluable physical propergo ing qualities fitting them for'use in heavyties, reduces the total alkali metal content duty bearings. of the alloyrequired, and as a result reduces 75 Lead alloys containing sodium andliththe tendency of the alloys to corrode. ium, each in quantityamounting to-less than I claim: 1%, are characterized by their great'resis- 1. Bearing-metal alloys consisting essen- 5 tivity againstshocks, in View of which their tiall'y of lead and comprising lithium inuse in bearings subject to shocks is indiquantity suflicient toproducean appreciable so cated. hardening efiect but not in excess ofabout By alloying lead with, lithium "and both 0.1% and an appreciableamount of at least sodium'and potassium, each in quantity not one otheralkali metal not substantially in ties referred to ma be obtained. Thepro- 2. Bearing-metal alloys. consisting essenportions of the a ditions,lithium, sodiuin tially of lead and comprising lithium in and potassium,may be varied to produce alquantity sufficient to produce anappreciable. loys having the desired qualitiesor combihardening effectbut not in excess of about nation of qualities. For examplefalloys 0.1%and an appreciable amount of sodium containing up to about 0.8% ofsodium and not substantially in excess of about 1.0%. up to about 0.8%of potassium and up to 3. Bearing-metal alloys, consisting essenabout0.1% of lithium and the remainder tially of lead and comprising lithiumin consisting principally of lead, are very usequantity sufficient toproduce an appreciable 4 ful as bearing-metals for generalapplicahardening effect but not in excess of about tion. g I 0.1% and anappreciable amount of sodium -All' of the alloys above referred to maynot substantially in excess ofabout 1.0%,

contain, besides the lead and the sodium, and an appreciable amountofpotassium potassium and lithium additions, small not substantially inexcess of about 1.0%. i

45 quantities of other elements such as *cop- 4. Bearing-metal alloysconsisting essenper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, magnesium, stron- .tially oflead and comprising lithium in ,tium, calcium mercury phosphorusandsulquantity sufiicient to, produce an appreciable fur. The efiects ofthese elementsin bearhardening eifect but not in excess of abouting-metal ;.;alloys consisting essentially of 0.1%, .an appreciableamount of at least 60 lead are generally known and them use to oneother' alkali metal not substantially in secure particular properties iswithin the excess of about 1.0% and an appreciable skill of thetechnologist. The quantities of amount of an alkaline earth meta notsubsuch additions generally should not exceed stantially in excess ofabout 1.0%.

about 5% in the aggregate. 5. Bearing-metal alloys consisting emtiallyof lead and tially of lead and com rising lithium in quantity sufiicientto pro uce an appreciable hardenlng effect but not in excess of about0.1%, an appreciable amount of sodium not substantially in excess ofabout 1.0% and an appreciable amount of an alkaline earth metal notsubstantially in excess of about 1.0%.

6. Bearing-metal alloys consisting essentially of lead and com risinglithium in quantity sufiicient to prodhce an appreciable hardeningeffect but not in excess of about 0.1%, an appreciable amount of sodiumnot substantially in excess of about 1.0%, an appreciable amount ofpotassium not substantially in excess of about 1.0%, and an appreciableamount of an alkaline earth metal not substantially in excess of about1.0%.

7. Bearing-metal alloys consisting essencom rising lithium in quantitysufficient to pro uce an appreciable hardening efi'ect but not in excessof about 0.1%, an appreciable amount of sodium not substantially inexcess of about 1.0%, an appreciable amount of potassium notsubstantially in excess of about 1.0%, and an appreciable amount ofcalcium not substantially in excess of about 1.0%.

8. Bearing metal alloys consisting of about 95% of lead, lithium inquantity sufficient to produce an appreciable hardening effect but notin excess of about 0.1%, an appreciable amount of at least one otheralkali metal not substantially in excess of about 1.0%, an alkalineearth metal in an appreciable amount not substantially in excess ofabout 1.0%, and at least one of the elements copper, nickel, cobalt,zinc, magnesium', phosphorus and sulfur.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

GEORG WELTER.

